Johan's mind. Is a complicated thing.
Because I'm stuck at a relative's house with no AIM and a very slow internet connection:
There have been a lot of interesting points brought up over Johan's ability to draw people into a seemingly completely isolated world, with just him and his intended "victim" (although not always a victim) being able to view the change of surroundings. In other words, Johan can make people "see" things. And yes, it is canon. It happens at least 3 times. The question is, however, how does it happen, to what extent, and under what circumstances.
Instances to reference back to:
- With Schuwald. "Can you see it? It's hard to believe there could be such a splendid sight in the world."
Johan makes an ugly, mechanical construction site seem like a natural paradise in Schuwald's eyes. Another focus on the concept of eyes, as Schuwald is practically blind, yet sees this paradise. (Another reference to eyes follows in the upcoming library scene.)
- With Richard Brown. "...Well, would you like a drink?"
Not necessarily causing anyone to "see" anything, however uses simple words to create despair, guilt, and as a result, suicidal impulses within Brown. Causing a man who was on the up-and-up, looking forward to see his daughter the next day --> making him "erase his sins" with a drink and a jump. From a very tall building.
There is still a sense of isolation from the world when this happens, however. Eyes are important, more specifically Johan's, in this case.
- With Tenma. "You can see it... The scenery of doomsday."
The most blatant example. Johan share with Tenma his vision of the end of the world. Surroundings change drastically, from a dark wet street in a small town to an infinitely harsh landscape, devoid of life, and... strong winds. Yes, wind. Both Johan and Tenma feel physical effects while in this other "world", as temporary as it lasts.
- With Tenma (hospital scene). "Which one...? Which one of us was unwanted...?"
Johan shares with Tenma his memories, arguably his most traumatic one, or at least very poignant in the psychological state of Johan's mind. What is odd/unique about this case is that he projects a personal memory, not a mere change of landscape, into Tenma's mind.
Which presents a problem. Was it a mere dream that Tenma had and none of it really happened? This doesn't make any sense, since how can Tenma dream about a part of Johan's life in which he knew nothing about in the first place? So then, does Johan really have the ability to do something to that extent, in which it would then seem pushing into the supernatural side of things. Supernatural? Personally, to me, that seems like a bit of a stretch. But THEN AGAIN, I can't think of another explanation for it. However, it does illustrate Johan's departure from anything human and more towards something irregular, unnatural, and inhuman. I.e. a monster.
- Alright. So then how?
...I really don't know, to be honest. Gaze into Johan's eyes and he can bring you to another place away from reality (Tenma), listen to him long enough and he can make you believe what you never wanted to accept (Brown), he can detatch that sense of reality from you and present to you something that is fantastical at best, but so very real to the intended victim (all but Brown).
But Urasawa never explains how this happens. It just happens.
I've always thought that this perhaps was to accentuate the difference between Johan and everyone else. Yes, Johan was in Kinderheim 511, and although that probably escalated his already rather unstable mental state, the point is that it was fairly unstable in the first place. Johan... was never a normal child or man. He plots the death of adults with a quiet smile at the age of ten. He took impossibly vivid memories of Nina's experience at the Red Rose Mansion and made them his own. Obviously, his mind works in very twisted ways by nature. And if that's the case, then who's to say that causing illusions of the mind isn't apart of that nature?
The only other thing I can point out is the importance of his eyes when he does this. I don't know why, other than the cliche that "the eyes are the window to the soul", or maybe Urasawa just thought that it looked cool in his panels. In any case, it all begins with the eyes of the monster.
-To what extent?
Obviously, Johan isn't changing the very fabric of the world around him when he does this. Trees don't just magically sprout from the ground and a shimmering lake doesn't suddenly spring forth from a construction area. Although I do wonder what the heck is up with the apple from the sand. Buildings don't collapse and flatten into the soil when showing the scenery of doomsday. As stated before, it's just an illusion.
HOWEVER, those participating in the illusion do feel both physical and emotional effects. Emotionally, it's obvious why this is. The whole reason why Johan does it in the first place is for the mental aspect, going for some sort of impact on the viewer usually for manipulation purposes.
Those not taking place in the illusion would see nothing different.
-Under what circumstances?
Most likely, whenever the other person is most susceptible to it, mentally-speaking. Otherwise, though, it just seems like whenever Johan actually feels like it. Not much else to add on this matter.
So. Is this something that Johan runs around doing to every person? Obviously not; he has no reason to.
Something he would do on the island? Not much of a reason to, and he always does it for a particular reason. (Yes, mindfucking with Tenma is a VALID REASON. >_>)
Interesting to think about, though.
Okay, I think I'm done.
There have been a lot of interesting points brought up over Johan's ability to draw people into a seemingly completely isolated world, with just him and his intended "victim" (although not always a victim) being able to view the change of surroundings. In other words, Johan can make people "see" things. And yes, it is canon. It happens at least 3 times. The question is, however, how does it happen, to what extent, and under what circumstances.
Instances to reference back to:
- With Schuwald. "Can you see it? It's hard to believe there could be such a splendid sight in the world."
Johan makes an ugly, mechanical construction site seem like a natural paradise in Schuwald's eyes. Another focus on the concept of eyes, as Schuwald is practically blind, yet sees this paradise. (Another reference to eyes follows in the upcoming library scene.)
- With Richard Brown. "...Well, would you like a drink?"
Not necessarily causing anyone to "see" anything, however uses simple words to create despair, guilt, and as a result, suicidal impulses within Brown. Causing a man who was on the up-and-up, looking forward to see his daughter the next day --> making him "erase his sins" with a drink and a jump. From a very tall building.
There is still a sense of isolation from the world when this happens, however. Eyes are important, more specifically Johan's, in this case.
- With Tenma. "You can see it... The scenery of doomsday."
The most blatant example. Johan share with Tenma his vision of the end of the world. Surroundings change drastically, from a dark wet street in a small town to an infinitely harsh landscape, devoid of life, and... strong winds. Yes, wind. Both Johan and Tenma feel physical effects while in this other "world", as temporary as it lasts.
- With Tenma (hospital scene). "Which one...? Which one of us was unwanted...?"
Johan shares with Tenma his memories, arguably his most traumatic one, or at least very poignant in the psychological state of Johan's mind. What is odd/unique about this case is that he projects a personal memory, not a mere change of landscape, into Tenma's mind.
Which presents a problem. Was it a mere dream that Tenma had and none of it really happened? This doesn't make any sense, since how can Tenma dream about a part of Johan's life in which he knew nothing about in the first place? So then, does Johan really have the ability to do something to that extent, in which it would then seem pushing into the supernatural side of things. Supernatural? Personally, to me, that seems like a bit of a stretch. But THEN AGAIN, I can't think of another explanation for it. However, it does illustrate Johan's departure from anything human and more towards something irregular, unnatural, and inhuman. I.e. a monster.
- Alright. So then how?
...I really don't know, to be honest. Gaze into Johan's eyes and he can bring you to another place away from reality (Tenma), listen to him long enough and he can make you believe what you never wanted to accept (Brown), he can detatch that sense of reality from you and present to you something that is fantastical at best, but so very real to the intended victim (all but Brown).
But Urasawa never explains how this happens. It just happens.
I've always thought that this perhaps was to accentuate the difference between Johan and everyone else. Yes, Johan was in Kinderheim 511, and although that probably escalated his already rather unstable mental state, the point is that it was fairly unstable in the first place. Johan... was never a normal child or man. He plots the death of adults with a quiet smile at the age of ten. He took impossibly vivid memories of Nina's experience at the Red Rose Mansion and made them his own. Obviously, his mind works in very twisted ways by nature. And if that's the case, then who's to say that causing illusions of the mind isn't apart of that nature?
The only other thing I can point out is the importance of his eyes when he does this. I don't know why, other than the cliche that "the eyes are the window to the soul", or maybe Urasawa just thought that it looked cool in his panels. In any case, it all begins with the eyes of the monster.
-To what extent?
Obviously, Johan isn't changing the very fabric of the world around him when he does this. Trees don't just magically sprout from the ground and a shimmering lake doesn't suddenly spring forth from a construction area. Although I do wonder what the heck is up with the apple from the sand. Buildings don't collapse and flatten into the soil when showing the scenery of doomsday. As stated before, it's just an illusion.
HOWEVER, those participating in the illusion do feel both physical and emotional effects. Emotionally, it's obvious why this is. The whole reason why Johan does it in the first place is for the mental aspect, going for some sort of impact on the viewer usually for manipulation purposes.
Those not taking place in the illusion would see nothing different.
-Under what circumstances?
Most likely, whenever the other person is most susceptible to it, mentally-speaking. Otherwise, though, it just seems like whenever Johan actually feels like it. Not much else to add on this matter.
So. Is this something that Johan runs around doing to every person? Obviously not; he has no reason to.
Something he would do on the island? Not much of a reason to, and he always does it for a particular reason. (Yes, mindfucking with Tenma is a VALID REASON. >_>)
Interesting to think about, though.
Okay, I think I'm done.